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Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Review

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Run Time: 60 minutes

The world of
“Doctor Who” has many rules and technicalities to the storyline, no doubt
adjusted to continue the franchise from generation to generation. Among these
are the specifics behind the doctor’s changing appearance through the years
since his arrival in pop culture in 1963. Apparently there are a certain amount
of incarnations of the same doctor over the years, which explains the change in
actors playing him. The episode included in this package, “The Time of the
Doctor,” marks the departure of Matt Smith as the eleventh doctor (though he is
technically the thirteenth actor to play the doctor, he is eleventh in the
actual timeline), as well as the 800th episode in the series
franchise.

With the historical
significance of this episode out of the way, however, there is much left to be
desired in this Christmas themed addition to the storyline. The major plot
development in the overall narrative makes this a significant episode, ushering
in Peter Capaldi as the next doctor with the news that the Time Lords have a
limited amount of regenerations before they die for good. This seems like a
revelation that shoots the series in the foot, allowing an end to this endless
series inevitable. This isn’t the problem fans seem to have with this episode,
however, instead infuriating the dedicated viewers with a convoluted narrative
and shoehorned Christmas themes.

The story takes
place on an alien planet in a town called Christmas, which is a glaring hint at
the direction of the holiday-themed episode. The episode moves quickly, trying
a bit too much for an emotional response at the end which is never really
earned by the script as much as it relies on previous knowledge of the series.
A feeble doctor played by Smith eventually ends his time on the show with a
sudden departure after a melodramatic goodbye, leaving us with the beginnings
of a new Time Lord exterior. Fans of the show are likely to feel cheated by the
sloppiness of the episode’s storyline, whereas everyone unfamiliar with the
series is simply bound to be confused by the convolution of the script.

The Blu-ray
bonus features include three featurettes: “Behind the Lens,” “Tales from the
Tardis,” and “Farewell to Matt Smith.”